Introduction
Rapid strep testing in children is an informative method for determining the pathogenic strain of streptococcus, namely β-hemolytic streptococcus group A. Moreover, testing has many significant advantages and benefits that distinguish it from its analogs. For instance, this is a fast and easy to use and apply way to determine the number of certain bacteria in a short period. This procedure saves time, eliminating the need to wait for the results of bacteriological seeding.
With the help of the method, an attending physician will give a child the correct diagnosis and, accordingly, prescribe the proper treatment. As a rule, streptococcus is a frequent causative agent of upper respiratory tract infections, primarily angina, and scarlet fever. Hence, testing diagnoses streptococcal these ailments in the early stages. Thus, with untimely or inadequately performed antibacterial therapy, the danger of the above diseases can turn into a more severe condition and be expressed in the form of complications (Barakat et al., 2019). For example, untimely treatment can lead to various heart diseases and rheumatic fever in the child’s body (Barakat et al., 2019). Testing will help start antibacterial treatment promptly, and in case of a negative result, it will protect against unjustified prescribing of antibiotics.
Purpose
The primary and essential purpose of the testing is expressed as follows. This strategy allows a medical worker to determine the presence of specific bacteria more accurately on the surface of a child’s throat (Rapid strep test, 2019). It should be noted that an express test will only show the presence or absence of group A streptococcus (Rapid strep test, 2019). Hence, the method will help a healthcare professional identify the “rudiments” of manifestations of more severe throat problems and potential health threats (Mersch, 2020). Group A streptococci are particularly dangerous, especially if they “live” in the organism of a “small human.” Streptococcus pyogenes can cause skin diseases and throat infections (Banerjee & Ford, 2018). It can flow into more severe and serious ailments, such as sepsis, heart disease, glomerulonephritis, and many others (Banerjee & Ford, 2018). In brief, the test detects the presence of certain bacteria in the throat of children that cause, for example, pharyngitis and sore throat. Moreover, this allows one to highlight the current processes of the disease, identify the further outcome and take special measures for prevention and treatment.
How the Diagnostic Test is Conducted
Before testing, a doctor conducts a general examination of a “baby,” drawing certain conclusions from the information received. For instance, a professional in healthcare examines both external and internal signs of throat disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. A medic examines a part of a patient’s throat with a flashlight and devices for fixing the tongue (Familydoctor.org editorial staff, 2020). In addition, a doctor checks the temperature and examines the child’s neck itself for the presence of tumors, wrapping arms around it (Familydoctor.org editorial staff, 2020). After studying such moments and phenomena, a specialist has the right to conduct special rapid strep testing in children.
The testing methodology is not complex and does not require special skills and abilities from an “organizer.” Thus, a medical worker must perform several consecutive steps to conduct testing. Primarily, a specialist takes a swab from a child’s mouth and then determines the resulting sample for the presence of specific substances in the throat (Familydoctor.org editorial staff, 2020). Then, the smear is placed in a test tube with a particular reagent, and after a certain time, one can already count the results. The determination is based on the principle of immunochromatographic analysis. If the concentration of the pathogen is high, then a positive result may appear in the first minutes, but to make sure of a negative outcome, a medical worker needs to wait at least seven minutes. With a positive consequence, a doctor gives recommendations to parents on how to relieve a child’s sore throat. If the results are negative and the symptoms of angina or pharyngitis manifest themselves in a pronounced form, a professional can send the resulting sample to the laboratory for additional research. However, in this case, testing takes not a couple of minutes but about two days.
Information Gathered by the Diagnostic Test
Rapid strep testing in children collects certain information, based on which a specialist draws certain conclusions. Thus, the “quick” test allows a doctor to diagnose the presence or absence of a dangerous beta-hemolytic streptococcus group A in the throat within several minutes. In case of a positive result, testing will help start timely antibacterial treatment of streptococcal infection (sore throats, scarlet fever, tonsillopharyngitis) and protect against complications. In case of a negative result, it will protect against unjustified prescribing of antibiotics. In short, such a timely rapid diagnosis of streptococcus will help protect against unjustified treatment, will not allow the streptococcal sore throat to be missed, and most importantly, will prevent the development of the most severe complications. This will help make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the proper treatment accordingly.
Conclusion
The validity and reliability of testing can be explained as follows. For example, a high level of false results is usually observed in five-year-olds and in those patients who have been treated for 28 days (Barakat et al., 2019). However, the consequences may also vary depending on the degree of immune reactions. It is also worth noting that the results may differ dramatically in adults and children.
References
Banerjee, S., & Ford, C. (2018). Rapid tests for the diagnosis of group A streptococcal infection: A review of diagnostic test accuracy, clinical utility, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Web.
Barakat, A. J., Evans, C., Gill, M., & Nelson, D. (2019). Rapid strep testing in children with recently treated streptococcal pharyngitis.Pediatric Investigation, 3(1), pp. 27-30. Web.
Familydoctor.org editorial staff. (2020). Rapid strep test. Familydoctor.org. Web.
Mersch, J. (2020). Rapid strep test procedure kit accuracy, and false positive. MedicineNet. Web.
Rapid strep test. (2019). Harvard Health Publishing (HHP). Web.